title: Contrast enhanced ultrasound for the characterization of focal liver lesions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to present the practice of two experienced centres concerning the use of contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the characterization of focal liver lesions (FLL).
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, bicentric study, between 09.2009-09.2010 was undertaken and 729 FLL (506-Center A, 223-Center B) were evaluated. A CEUS examination was considered conclusive, if the FLL had a typical enhancement pattern according to EFSUMB Guidelines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From the 729 cases with FLL, 389 (53.4%) were patients without known and 340 (46.6%) with known chronic liver disease. CEUS was conclusive for the diagnosis in 597/729 cases (82%) and allowed the positive diagnosis of benign vs. malignant lesion in 662/729 (90.8%) FLL. For each center independently (Center A vs. Center B) the situation was as follows: conclusive for the diagnosis 390/506 (77.1%) vs 207/223 (92.8%) (p<0.0001), conclusive for the differentiation benign/malignant 449/506 (88.7%) vs. 213/223 (95.5%) (p=0.0032).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our bicentric study, CEUS was conclusive for diagnosis in 82% of FLL and the benign or malignant character of a lesion was demonstrated in 90.8% of cases. Thus, when faced with an uncharacteristic FLL on standard ultrasound, our local strategy in both centers was to perform CEUS as a first-line investigation thus avoiding other expensive examinations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Victor Babeş University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 13, Snagov str, 300482 Timişoara, Romania. isporea@umft.ro
authors.forename: Ioan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sporea
authors.forename: Radu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Badea
authors.forename: Alina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martie
authors.forename: Roxana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sirli
authors.forename: Mihai
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Socaciu
authors.forename: Alina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Popescu
authors.forename: Mirela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dănilă
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010743:Phospholipids; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012383:Romania / Q000453:epidemiology; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D010743:Phospholipids; C420843:contrast agent BR1; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride